Report from a Public Hearing on Proposed Rule Changes for the Kennebec

Did you know the rules on Striper fishing in the Kennebec may change?  It's true.  To bring you up to speed, let me summarize the special regulations that have been in place on the Kennebec watershed for the past 18 years.  In the area between Small Point and Cape Newagen and all areas upriver there has been a catch-and-release-only season from May 1 to June 30.  Also, during this time of year,  all use of bait has been prohibited in these same areas.

The proposed rule changes for May 1 to June 30 would shrink the catch-and-release area significantly.  It would open up the entire Sheepscot as well as the Southern and Western facing beaches of Popham.  More significantly, bait would be permitted in the entire Kennebec watershed as long as fishermen use circle hooks. 

Tonight, at the Bath City Hall, I attended a public hearing on this rule change.  I witnessed a very civil and orderly debate on this topic.  According to several people in attendance, the last time there was a hearing of this sort (in 2002), the meeting was so disorderly that people could not speak without being heckled from the opposing side.

Lining up against the rule change was the Coastal Conservation Association(CCA), the Maine Association of Charterboat Captians(MACC), and various other recreational fishermen.  Some of the more notable speakers against the amendment were Duncan Barnes, the president of CCA, Forest Faulkingham, the president of MACC, and Doug Jowett, a long-time guide out of the midcoast.  Their position was that Striper fishing is on the decline and why make it tougher on the fish by shrinking the catch-and-release part of the river and permitting the use of bait.

In support of the amendment was the Recreational Fisherman's Alliance. There were many captains who spoke out in favor of these changes including Russell Troy, Barry Gibson, Jeff Tims, Pete Ripley, and Bill Spencer.  Chris Grill, owner of the Kennebec Angler, also spoke out in favor of the amendment.  Their position was that the current situation does not reduce pressure on the fish and favors one kind of angler over another.

I, as most of you know, am a bait guy.  I love to work my way up the food chain.  Not having to use artificials will save me tons of money on lures and will allow me to fish the way I love to.  I grew up fishing nothing but artificials for Stripers, but I just prefer to step up to the "Meat Table" as Captain Russell Troy once told me. 

At the same time, I want to protect our fishery.  I just think we have little effect on the overall condition of the Striped Bass fishery.  I hate to pass the buck but I am afraid I will here.  Our Stripers come from the Chesapeake, that we know.  Also, we know, that Maine is the end of the Stripers' swim.  We also know that very few fish are caught here in comparison to places like Virginia and New York where the fish breed.  If we really want to preserve Striped Bass the solutions lie to my South. 
In the meantime, I hope this amendment goes through.  This summer I am excited to take people like Zach and Cindy Taylor fishing with live ones.  They always come in June which means they have always had to use artificials. For the Taylors and other families, this amendment will make the Striped Bass fishery a little more accessible. 

Finally, tonight was great for another reason.  It was so nice to take off my teacher hat and put on my fisherman hat.  I am so lucky to be able to have two great jobs.  I must say that wearing my charterboat captain hat is always fun and I am really looking forward to putting it on come June.